Daily Dose of Hope

September 11, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 26:1-33

Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us. We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances. Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness. Help us seek pure hearts. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It's in your name we pray, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis. Today, our reading is the bulk of Genesis 26, through verse 33.

We read in today's chapter that there is a famine in the land so Isaac goes down to Gerar. Gerar was a town south of Canaan, located in a fertile valley, which makes sense why Isaac would choose that location. But when he gets there, he does something that will sound very familiar to us. He tells the local king that Rebekah is his sister! Like father, like son. Even though God has promised to protect him, Isaac is still fearful. How often we fall into the same pattern as our parents.

It's here that we see God's grace. God blesses Isaac despite himself. Even after the king finds out that Rebekah is his wife, God ensures that Isaac is blessed and protected. His flocked multiply. His wells are plentiful. He is so very successful that the locals are feeling threatened and he keeps moving around. He ends up settling in Beersheba, where God reinforces that he is with Isaac and will make his descendants great.

Isaac's success ends up being a witness for the Lord. Eventually, the king comes and finds him. He admits that he knows that Isaac is successful because of God Almighty is with him. It isn't anything that Isaac has done (it's actually despite Isaac). It's all God. This leads to Isaac making a covenant of peace with the king. Again, we see God's hand at work.

How often have you seen God's hand at work in your life, even when you have been disobedient or sinful? It's amazing to me how God's grace can persist through our mess and stubbornness.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

Sept. 10, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 25

Prayer: Almighty God, we start by pausing before you. Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God. God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It's truly a miracle. Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church. We are currently doing a deep dive into the books of Genesis and Exodus. Today, our reading is Genesis 25.

The chapter begins with Abraham taking a new wife. Remember, Sarah has passed. This new wife, Keturah, has quite a few kids. But the chapter makes it clear that despite these additional children, Abraham gives everything he has to Isaac. He is the son who God promised to him and the one through whom God's promise will pass.

But then the Scripture says something kind of interesting. It says that Abrahm gave gifts to the sons of the concubines. I don't know about you, but I was initially like, what??? Did Abraham have concubines? Upon some deeper study, the only untoward relationship we know of in Abraham's life is with Hagar. So, it could be that this is a reference to both Hagar and Keturah, letting us know that God's covenant promise was through Sarah. The other women did not have the same status.

And then, Abraham dies. His sons bury him in the same cave as his first wife, Sarah.

We then read about the birth of Isaac's twin boys, Jacob and Esau. They were fraternal twins that seemed to be in competition with each other from birth. Some Jewish commentators actually say that they tried to kill one another in the womb, but that certainly does not seem to be evident in the Scripture. What we do know is that God revealed to Rebekah that the older (stronger) brother will be subordinate to the younger (weaker) brother. But in some ways, the boys divided the parents. Isaac favored Esau while Rebekah favored Jacob.

Let's fast-forward. The Scripture moves quickly to when the boys are young men. It's a story most of us have heard before. Esau sells his firstborn right for a bowl of Jacob's delicious stew. We get a picture of Esau as impulsive. His hunger needs to be dealt with immediately! He doesn't think about the long-term consequences.

I've always thought this story is so strange. Esau seems to be impulsive, but he also seems to be treated unfairly. Thus, we have to look at the deeper themes here. By favoring Jacob, God is siding with the powerless, the weak, and the younger brother. By favoring Jacob, God is actually identifying with Israel, the tiny, powerless nation who lived in the middle of much stronger nations.

And while God identifies with Jacob, Jacob is still not always characterized in the best light. God's favor comes in spite of Jacob's negative behavior. We can actually get a picture of God's grace here. Despite his brokenness, God has decided to work through Jacob. Despite our brokenness, God will work through us.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 9, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 24

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew. Lord, forgive us for our many failings. We want to do better. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 24.

Today, we read about Isaac's marriage to Rebekah. The chapter begins with Abraham asking his senior servant to swear an oath that he will find a wife for Isaac among his father's people rather than the surrounding Canaanites. You probably noticed that when asking his servant, Abraham has the servant place his hand under Abraham's thigh. I definitely needed to look this up.

This was the typical way of swearing a solemn oath in the ancient world. The thigh was considered the source of posterity. Or, more properly, the "loins" or the testicles. The phrase "under the thigh" could be a euphemism for "on the loins." We really don't know. But there are two reasons why someone would take an oath in this manner. First, Abraham had been promised a "seed" by God, and this covenantal blessing was passed on to his son and grandson. Abraham made his trusted servant swear "on the seed of Abraham" that he would find a wife for Isaac. Second, Abraham had received circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Our custom is to swear on a Bible; the Hebrew custom was to swear on circumcision, the mark of God's covenant. The idea of swearing on one's loins is found in other cultures, as well. The English word testify is directly related to the word testicles. So, there's your trivia for today.

Other scholars say that's totally hogwash. They would say placing a hand under the thigh indicated someone was under their authority. I'll let you decide which interpretation works.

The senior servant heads out to find a wife for Isaac. He goes to the land of Nahor, where Abraham's brother and family live. I kind of feel sorry for the servant here. It's kind of an awkward situation. He needs to find an appropriate wife and convince her family to allow him to take her far, far away. His sincerity and humility certainly help his case though. He truly wants to do the right thing and it seems that people can sense it.

God makes sure his promises are fulfilled here. Rebekah agrees to go with the servant, even when her family seeks to delay it. She goes back with the servant and takes her place in Sarah's tent, demonstrating that she is the new matriarch.

We get to learn more about Isaac in the next few chapters. Get ready!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 8, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 23

Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today in awe of your love for us. Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice. Thank you for sitting high and looking low. We give you all the glory and praise, Lord Jesus. Help us to be less selfish and more like you. On our own, we mess it up. We need you, Jesus. We need you minute by minute. Guide our thoughts today, Lord. Guide our words and guide our actions. May we look more like you today, Lord, than we did yesterday. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 23.

This chapter details the death of Sarah and Abraham's grieving. We get a picture of how the ancient Hebrews buried and mourned for their deceased. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded, so that tells us something about her – she is very highly regarded.

Abraham, very appropriately, grieves deeply for his wife. Then, he has to figure out where to bury her. He has a place in mind, the cave of Machpelah. It was located in the land belonging to Ephron the Hittite. In his travels around Canaan, Abraham had earlier lived in this area and there built an altar to God (chapter 13). He knew this cave and was willing to pay for it.

They do this weird negotiation. In those times and in that culture, it was appropriate to first offer the plot for free, knowing that the purchaser would refuse that. Then, there would be back and forth negotiation. We can see this in the Scripture. Abraham ends up getting the burial cave for 400 shekels of silver. I read a few articles that this was a real rip-off, but Abraham was wealthy and he wanted the land. He would have paid any price for it. Remember, eventually, all the land was to become Abraham's. But for this small piece, Abraham actually possessed a deed.

So, Sarah is buried there. This is also where Abraham's son buries him. It's where Isaac and Rebekah are buried, where Jacob buries Leah, and where Joseph buries Jacob. It is often called the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 7, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 22

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come to you today in awe. You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy. And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy. Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us. Thank you, Lord, for your patience. Help us to focus more on you. Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better. Work in us. Stretch us. Challenge us. Convict us. We love you. Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 22.

In our reading for today, we have Abraham almost sacrificing his only son, Isaac. This passage has always kind of bothered me. It seems inconsistent with God's character to want Abraham to kill his son. And remember, when something seems off, we need to dig deeper. What is God doing here? In the past, Abraham doubted God. Think about all the mishaps we have been reading about. He tried to have children his own way instead of waiting on God. He repeatedly tried to pass Sarah off as a sister instead of his wife. By asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God was testing Abraham. Does Abraham finally trust God? He is finally ready to trust in God's provision? I don't think God ever intended harm to come to Isaac. I think he wanted to see how much Abraham had grown.

Besides that, this passage is a beautiful foretelling of another sacrifice. God himself sacrificed his only son in order for us to be reconciled to a holy God. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

At the end of the chapter, we find more genealogy. At first, this seemed out of place. But when you dig beneath the surface, it actually makes sense. This genealogy lists the family members of Abraham's brother, Nahor. Nahor has many descendants, including a granddaughter named Rebekah. Rebekah will eventually become Isaac's wife. God has the covenant line all taken care of.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 3, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 20

Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are. Thank you for how you care for us. We get distracted. We veer away from you and your Word. For that, we are so very sorry. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to abide in you. Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom. Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them. Lord, we belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently studying the book of Genesis, and its full of sinfulness, drama, but also a lot of God's mercy. Today, we are reading Genesis 20.

So, Abraham and Sarah are back on the move, the Scripture saying that they moved toward the south, in a town named Gerar. Okay, can you believe Abraham tries to pass Sarah off as his sister again? By this time, Sarah is in her nineties. Yet, the king, Abimelech, still brings her into his palace. We could probably spend some time talking about this point, but I'll let it go. It's just kind of weird.

God intervenes again. He comes to Abimelech in a dream and tells him that Sarah is Abraham's wife. God also calls Abimelech a dead man unless he has Abraham pray for him. Once again, Abraham makes a bad decision, lies, puts his wife in a really vulnerable situation, and God saves him. It is amazing. God is going to be sure that he keeps his promise through Abraham. Despite Abraham's stupidity.

I guess that's good news for us. God keeps his promises to us, he cares for us, and he shows us mercy, even when we mess up over and over again. God uses a very flawed man called Abraham to build a nation. If he can do that, then he can also use you and me. Maybe it's kind of odd, but this gives me a lot of encouragement.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 2, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 19:30-38

Prayer: Holy God, We pause before you. We become still, recognizing that you are God. You are Creator, you are Provider, you are Sustainer. Thank you, Lord. We repent for how we have failed you. We repent for our pride, our anger, our bitterness, our flawed view of others. We repent for not putting you first. Forgive us, Lord. We are broken and sinful people. Lord, use us anyway. We pray that you can lead us to a place of healing and peace so that we can then be useful to your Kingdom. Help us be your servants, open to your leading and direction. We are yours. We belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis. Today's reading is the second half of Genesis 19, verses 30-38.

More drama! After Lot almost allows his daughters to be gang raped, now they are arranging to have sex with their dad. Let's just go ahead and say it – this is very dysfunctional, toxic even.

Let's talk about how we got here. Lot is fearful so he won't live in the town. Thus, he and his daughters are residing in a cave. This probably says something about where they are spiritually too. They are isolated, they are lonely, and they are afraid. Are they even acknowledging God? I don't get the impression God Almighty plays much of a role in their everyday lives. Not because God has moved on, but because they have chosen a path away from Him.

Fear makes people do desperate things and that's what we see in today's text. The girls are worried that pretty soon, their dad will die and they haven't had any children. They say there are no men. Of course, that isn't true. The nearest town would have plenty of men but they have isolated themselves to the point that they aren't thinking straight. So, they get their father drunk and have sex with him. This is really repulsive and it's hard to imagine that these young women would even think of doing this. It makes me wonder what their past was like. But we won't go there today.

Bottom line: Sin spirals downward. Lot was sinful. His wife sinned. The girls sinned. The sins of the fathers affect their children. Sin always has consequences. Always.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 1, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-29

Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow. We know that we are sinful and broken. We know that we have fallen short. We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church. Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way. How we need you. We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that. Help us seek holiness. Help us love others the way you love them. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you... In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis. Today's reading is the first half of Genesis 19, verses 1-29.

Lot, Abraham's nephew, chose the best land. It just happened to be that land included some pretty evil cities, both Sodom and Gomorrah. Their wickedness has been mentioned a few times before this chapter but we get the full experience in chapter 19.

The angels from chapter 18 head over the Sodom. Lot meets them with a hospitable spirit, offers them a place to stay, and food to eat. But the men of the town surround Lot's house and demand to have sex with the visiting men. Not a nice way to welcome people to town. But instead of standing up to the mob, Lot offered his two daughters for the mob to rape! What are we to make of this?

It was a sacred duty to care for those under your own roof in the ancient Near East. Hospitality was a big deal. But one would think caring for your daughters would be as well. Lot clearly has some priority issues. It shows his lack of care for his own daughters, maybe because they are women who have little value in his society, maybe because he was scared, we don't really know. It's despicable though. I'm grateful that God's messengers intervened to make sure those girls were safe.

The Bible definitely gives us the whole, ugly truth about people, their sin, their failures, their good choices, and their terrible choices. God is not lifting them up as an example, but he is allowing us to learn from them. Lot clearly had compromised his values. He moved to Sodom. He rubbed elbows with wicked people. Something rubbed off on him. But he allowed it.

The two men, God's messengers, make it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. Lot and his family must leave. The sons-in-law, clearly not having a lot of respect for Lot, laugh at the thought of destruction. But Lot, his wife, and the two daughters head out of dodge. But his wife looks back, which God warns them not to do, and she turns into a pillar of salt. I would have really liked some more information here – what a shock to the family!

Sin has consequences. We get to see that again and again in Scripture.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 31, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 18

Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently studying the book of Genesis, learning a lot about God's character and truth, but also realizing how people haven't changed much at all.

Today's reading is Genesis 18. This is a fascinating chapter. Three men come to see Abraham. But we also know that the Scripture says that the Lord appeared to Abraham. Thus, we can assume that one of the men was actually the Lord in human form. The other two might have been angels.

It seems that Abraham knew right off the bat that he was in the presence of God. He runs out to meet the men, he makes sure they are fed the absolute best. We know Abraham had been in the presence of God before and so there must have been something about the men that Abraham immediately recognized.

I had some thoughts about this. How often have we encountered God? How often have we encountered his messengers, the angels? Are our eyes open to see when a heavenly being visits us? Think about Hebrews 13:2, which says not to forget to show hospitality to strangers because by doing so, some people have shown hospitality to angels without even knowing it.

The men tell Abraham that within a year, Sarah will be pregnant. She laughs and God knows it. He calls her on it. I don't blame her. Women in their nineties don't typically think of pregnancy. But God had willed it and he makes it clear, nothing is too hard for him. Do you believe that nothing is too hard for God, I mean really?

The Lord shares with Abraham that he plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their horrible wickedness. It's obvious that Abraham is greatly bothered by this. He moves into this negotiation with God. Will God destroy those cities if there are fifty righteous men? What about forty-five or forty or thirty or twenty or even ten? God is patient and says that he won't destroy Sodom or Gomorrah if there are even just ten righteous people there.

God's justice is perfect. He knew that Sodom and Gomorrah needed to be destroyed. As horrible as they must have been, it's still hard for me to think about such destruction. I just have to keep going back to that truth: God's justice is perfect. He always knows best.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It's our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God's Word to live God's Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com